A manufacturer and supplier of
bitumen, modified binders, and
emulsions for road construction,
SprayPave has procured a
multistage bitumen converter
that changes bituminous
products from one grade to
another. This enhances the
penetration grades of bitumen
required to produce asphalt.
The 20-tonne-per-hour
multistage bitumen converter was
acquired from Technix Industries
in New Zealand, a company that
has been in the bitumen business
for over 100 years and is a global
leader in bitumen technologies.
The unit, located at SprayPave’s
Cape Town plant, is the second
to be commissioned worldwide
after Fiji.
“We can now achieve
predictable and repeatable
conversion of penetration grade
bitumen available from South
African refineries to grades that
are both lower in penetration
and higher in softening point
than the feedstock bitumen,”
says Eddie Jansen van Vuuren,
general manager of SprayPave.
“Following several months of
testing, we are delighted to
have received SABS test results
that show that 50/70 produced
conforms to the SANS 4001-BT1
specification.”
Bitumen is an essential
component of asphalt as a binder.
It is produced by refineries as a
by-product of crude oil, but can
only be supplied in broad grade
ranges that seldom meet asphalt
design specifications.
The multistage bitumen
converter uses pressure, heat, and
air to precisely convert bituminous
refinery feedstocks into superior
quality bitumen. The softness,
penetration index, and physical
properties of the bitumen can
be changed to meet exact design
specifications.
Jansen van Vuuren points out
that this technology addresses
current and future issues
around local bitumen supply,
particularly in regions such
as the Western Cape where
refineries are unable to provide
suitable penetration grades of
bitumen for road binders. The
converter can modify 70/100
penetration grade bitumen to
50/70 or even 10/20, which is
required for new high modulus
asphalt designs.
With certain chemical
additives, the converter can also
produce multigrade bitumen with
specifications and performance
characteristics spanning several
penetration grades. “This is
particularly significant as it will
help manufacturers to comply
with the new Performance Grade
(PG) bitumen specifications in
South Africa,” he says.
These specifications aim
to improve the assessment
of deformation resistance,
fatigue properties, long-term
performance, and cracking
potential of bitumen as an
Assured bitumen quality for SA roads
Eddie Jansen van Vuuren,
general manager of SprayPave.
asphalt binder. By enhancing
bitumen penetration grades, the
multistage bitumen converter
can help asphalt producers to
ensure they are using multigrade
bitumen products complying
with the PG specifications.
Goscor Earth Moving adds SANY equipment to stable
Bobcat Equipment South Africa
managing director, Barry Owen.
38 _ QUARRY SA | NOVEMBER 2017
on board now means that we
also compete in the larger
equipment market.”
GEM offers SANY excavators,
motor graders, and rollers for the
construction, mining, agriculture,
sand and stone, forestry,
roadworks, and plant hire
sectors. Technical expert Simon
Zhu highlights that SANY is the
number one heavy-equipment
brand in China, with 500 000
units supplied in 180 countries.
“We expect SANY’s market
share in South Africa to increase
significantly as a result of
the distribution agreement
concluded with GEM,” Owen
stresses. “Mining is recovering,
and while the South African
economy has been continuously
weak for years, it should come to
the point where it bounces back
a little.”
Owen adds that the main
differentiator for SANY in the
local market will be highly
competitive pricing for a world-
class product, supplemented
by increased parts-holding as
well as full in-field service and
technical backup through GEM’s
national branch structure. “We
hold about R8-million worth of
SANY spares at any one time,
and replenish this stock on a
weekly basis,” he reveals.
In addition, SANY equipment
has been engineered
specifically for African
operating conditions, including
features such as shorter
sticks and stronger booms on
its excavators for enhanced
durability. Major benefits for
customers are fuel savings,
efficiency, user-friendly design,
and reliability.
Commenting on GEM’s
strategy to entrench
SANY in the local market, Owen
highlights that the initial focus
will be multiple client reference
points. “Of course, one only
gets these good references if
one has the aftersales service to
support the machines. Hence,
our strategy is to cultivate
10 to 20 customers as strong
advocates of the SANY brand,”
he concludes.
Goscor Earth Moving (GEM),
part of the Goscor Group, has
entered the larger excavator and
roadworks equipment market
through its representation of the
SANY brand.
According to managing
director Barry Owen, this
augments GEM’s product
offering, providing customers
with a single option for both
smaller and larger equipment.
“We have been a leading player
in the compact construction
market for many years through
our Bobcat range. Taking SANY
SANY equipment has been engineered
specifically for African operating
conditions.